FAIRFIELD -- When Leo Redgate stepped in as Fairfield Prep's basketball coach, his goal was to make the program the state's most consistent.

Through the first three seasons, he piled up victories, played deep into the postseason and developed players for the next level.

"I never want to be in a rebuilding year," Redgate said Monday.

So far, he hasn't been.

The Jesuits are a robust 67-14 during Redgate's tenure, with trips to the Class LL final in two of the last three years. They've done everything recently but win titles (they last won states in 1997), but if preseason hype is any indication, they could be on their way to accomplishing that.

With four starters returning from a squad that won 24 games and was an SCC and state runner-up, the Jesuits will open the season Wednesday against Branford ranked No. 1 in the state poll.

"It's nice to be recognized that we're a good team, but we can't let that go to our heads," junior guard Tom Nolan said before Monday's practice at Alumni Hall. "We still haven't played a game yet. We've just got to practice hard, keep playing hard and hopefully stay at the top."

Whether Prep can stay there for an extended time will depend largely on its 7-foot-2 force in the paint, senior Paschal Chukwu. The Providence College-bound senior, who averaged a double-double last year, is joined by Nolan and another Division I prospect, sophomore guard Ryan Murphy.

With seniors Dave Zielinski and Keith Pettway also returning to compete for significant time in the backcourt, the Jesuits continue to develop as planned. They're deep, they're talented and most of all, they're consistent.

"It's hard to replace the players," said Redgate, who's graduated all-state players the last two years in guard Terry Tarpey and forward Tim Butala. "We don't try to replace the players. We try to replace the production."

A senior on Prep's 22-4 team two years ago, Tarpey was one of the state's most efficient scorers. Now, he's averaging 6.4 points and 6.3 rebounds in 29 minutes as a sophomore for Division I William & Mary. Last season, Butala accounted for nearly 12 points and six rebounds a game for the Jesuits.

Considering all the playmakers to come through the program, the Jesuits believe they're even better this year.

The Jesuits solved everyone last year except SCC foe Hillhouse, which handed them their only three losses in four meetings (59-44 in the regular season, 53-47 in the conference final and 52-42 in the LL final).

Prep will get its first crack at Hillhouse on Jan. 3 at Alumni Hall. The two will meet again 27 days later at New Haven's Floyd Little Athletic Center. Whether the Jesuits are still ranked No. 1 for those games remains to be seen, but their potential isn't in question.

Redgate says the goal is to get five players scoring in double figures. Chukwu, who averaged 13.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 6.8 blocks last year, is a good start.

"He makes the game easier for us," Murphy said. "He really helps the guards, relieving pressure off of us."

The Jesuits are aware that there's plenty of work to be done, but they're optimistic about where they are now.

"We haven't played a game yet. We'll see," Murphy said. "But, in my mind and our team's head, right now we feel like we're No.1."